The PACIFIC THEATER US ARMY ST’s from WW2;
U.S. Army “ST” Small Harbor Tugs
Built 1952 -1954 during the Korean War;
And a Photo Gallery of all ST’s 9 28 14
Dan Friend
Coordinator: DeLand Army Tugboat Preservation Group Inc DATPG
The 1st list includes tugboats of Australian manufacture or locally purchased tugs which used the same type of number system as “regular” ST’s causing quite a bit of confusion. For example, there are two US ARMY ST-15’s that served during WW2! For simplicity, I’m going to arbitrarily call those made or locally procured in Australia A-ST’s; but those imported from the USA will keep the ST designation to keep them apart. I have put them in sequence with the other boats that served in the Pacific. I expect many additions and changes to this chart so no sequence numbers yet. All boats listed in the Report: U. S. Army Transportation in the Southwest Pacific Area 1941-1947, appendices 35 & 38 that were sent to the Pacific Theater in WW2 have been added to the chart.
The second chart includes those ST’s made in the early 1950’s. Most, if any, did not go to Korea; but quite a few did go to Vietnam. Most never came back. The first group of Design 3004 tugs built were in fact DeLand/Beresford boats.
The third section is of miscellaneous photos of ST’s including some very nice photography.
______
Here’s what I have on the Australian boats at this point:
Piet Van Damme mentions a group of ST’s # 1-15 & ST 18 built in Australia for the US Army in 1944, and lists their names as well: US Army ST-Tug (Australian built, 15 non sisterships in all - ST 1 / ST 15 resp.: COATESVILLE, CAMBRIDGE, CANTERBURRY, CARFILL, CARTERTON, CASTLECLIFF, CATLINS, CAVERSHAM, CHATHAM, CHRISTCHURCH, CLINTON, CLIVE, COLLINGWOOD, COOK, CULVERDEN)
diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 18 (CARBEEN?)
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
fate unknown
None of the Australian tugs are listed by name in Piet’s website with details. Hague’s Convoy records reflect a number of ST voyages that must be associated with these Australian ST’s and are recorded in the chart in blue from his work. I created an entry where I found an ST mentioned in a convoy even if I had no other indication.
Here’s an excerpt chart from the book Forgotten Fleet 2 which I have not yet been able to purchase.
ST-1 (S-347, Coatesville)ST-3 (S-349, Canterbury) / ST-10 (S-396, Christchurch) / ST-12 (S-398, Clive)
ST-14 (S-400, Cook) / ST-17 (S-277, Carbanup) / ST-18 (S-279, Carbeen)
ST-19 (S-278, Carbethon) / ST-21 (S-706, Carcoola) / ST-22 (S-340, Carinya)
ST-26 / ST-27 / ST-38 (S-848, Chullora)
ST-40 (S-850, Cobadong) / ST-42 (S-341, Cobarup) / ST-43 (S-342, Cobbora)
ST-46 (S-1018, Cobacup) / ST-66 (S-1019, Coonatto) / ST-68 (S-1021, Coonong)
ST-72 (S-1025, Corio) / ST-74 (S-1027, Cowal) / ST-75
ST-76 (S-1029, Cowlong) / ST-131 / ST-145
ST-179 / ST-309 / ST-357
ST-381 (S-577) / ST-405 (S-648) / ST-468 (S-583)
ST-472 (S-641) / ST-729
Many of these numbers DUPLICATE “regular” ST’s: remember they are all US ARMY ST ships and to make life difficult, some of the “regular” ST’s went to the Pacific Theater!
Here’s a bit more info on the down-under Wartugs from a blog:
April 2011 Page 8 of 24
AT1520 COMBARA
John Bryden was searching the internet recently and came across this old ex-Army tug for sale in
Melbourne. It is AT1520 Combara, a 45 ft wooden tug which was one of many that were built
for the Army Water Transport during World War II. In fact the “Australian Army Watercraft –
The Unknown Fleet” reports that 65 vessels were ordered during the war for Army use plus
another 12 for the Navy. By the end of the war 62 tugs were under construction or delivered.
115 of these tugs were built in Australia for the US Army. ???
These sturdy craft remained in Army service until the 1960s. The last Navy 45 ft tug (ex Army
tug AT1536 Dooen) was paid off in 1993. Several examples remain in civilian use, particularly
on Sydney Harbour, and at least one in Melbourne.
Some specifications on these tugs are: Length overall 45 ft, Breadth 14 ft, Depth 7 ft, powered
by an assortment of engines such as the Gray 64HN9 marine diesel developing 225 bhp. It had a
range of 500 miles and a crew of four. Its armament was one .303” twin Vickers machine gun.
(The AT designation is a mystery for now…..DF)
The Incomplete PACIFIC WW2 US ARMY ST Chart: Australian Built, Locally Purchased, or Sent Over from the USA
(Tugs that are recorded as being in the Pacific Theater but shipped from the USA are marked without the “A” designation, and noted with “US Import”in the comments area….are there duplicate numbers with other locally made or procured tugs? It’s certainly possible! )
# / A-ST #, NameAnd S # / Design / Engine / How
Long / Details Known
A-ST 1
Coatesville
S-347 / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 1
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
A-ST 2
Cambridge / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 2
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
A-ST 3
Canterbury
S-349 / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 3
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
In convoy GI.11A from Hollandia to Leyte
Feb 1945
A-ST 4
Carfil / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 4)
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
In convoy GI.3 from Hollandia to Leyte Jan 1945
A-ST 5
Carterton / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 5
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
In convoy GI.16A from Hollandia to Hollandia Mar 1945
A-ST 6
Castlecliff / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 6
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
A-ST 7
Catlins / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 7
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
A-ST 8
Caversham / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 8
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
In convoy GI.3 from Hollandia to Leyte Jan 1945
A-ST 9
Chatham / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 9
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
In Convoy GI.11A OR GI.6 from Hollandia to Leyte either Jan or Feb 1945
A-ST 10
Christchurch
S-396 / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 10
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
A-ST 11
Clinton / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 11
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
In Convoy GI.11A from Hollandia to Leyte Feb 1945
A-ST 12
Clive
S-398 / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 12
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
A-ST 13
Collingwood / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 13
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
IN HAGUE CONVOY DATABASE:GI.6 Hollandia-Leyte Jan 45
A-ST 14
Cook
S-400 / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 14
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
IN HAGUE CONVOY GI 16A Hollandia –Hollandia Mar 1945
A-ST 15
Culverden / diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 15
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA)
In convoy GI.25A from Hollandia to Leyte May 1945
A-ST 17
Carbanup
S-277
A-ST 18
Carbeen
S-279 / warboat
diesel, 400bhp, bp 4,5t
ST 18 (CARBEEN?)
1944: Built by "J. & A. Brown and Abermain-Seaham Collieries Ltd" at Hexham, Newcastle, NSW.(AUS)
(designed by the "Australian Shipbuilding Board")
1944: delivered to the US Army (USA) Assigned to the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade as of Aug 1944: The ST-18 was commanded by a civilian skipper, John B. Barber, who had the following 2 ESB personnel for a crew: TS/4 Frank Rainos, Timothy Murphy, Ts/5 William P. Dehaut, William C. Morrison, Evans B. Ratcliffe, Pfc. Richard A. Busch, and Pvt. Albert Browneski. While enroute to Ormoc on the West Coast of Leyte with a full fuel barge in tow, the ST shot down a Jap plane entitling her to one Jap flag on the bridge. She claims the record for the longest tow across open sea, 2300 miles from New Guinea to Leyte and she was the first vessel, other than the Brigade's assault landing craft, to enter Orinoc Bay. All during the Philippine campaign she has been busy towing barges from island to island, often without naval escort. - History of 2nd Engineer Special Brigade USA
A-ST 19
Carbethon
S-278 / In Convoy GI.6 from Hollandia to Leyte Jan 1945
ST-20 / In Convoy GI.16A from Hollandia to Leyte Mar 1945
A-ST-21
Carcoola
S-706
A-ST 22
Carinya
S-340 / In Convoy GI.16A from Hollandia to Leyte Mar 1945
A-ST 23 / In convoy GI.16A from Hollandia to Hollandia Mar 1945
A-ST-25 / In convoy GI.25A from Hollandia to Leyte
May 1945
A-ST 26
A-ST 27
A-ST-28 / In convoy GI.25A from Hollandia to Leyte May 1945
A-ST-29 / In convoy GI.21A from Hollandia to Leyte Apr 1945
A-ST 38
Chullora
S-848
A-ST-39 / In Convoy GI.16A from Hollandia to Hollandia Mar 1945
A-ST 40
Cobadong
S-850
A-ST 42
Cobarup
S-341 / In Convoy GI.25A from Hollandia to Leyte May 1945
A-ST 43
Cobbora
S-342 / In Convoy GI 6 arrived Leyte Gulf (Phillipines) from New Guinea in Jan 1945
A-ST 44 / In convoy GI.6 from Hollandia to Leyte Jan 1945
A-ST 46
Cobacup
S-1018
A-ST 66
Coonatto
S-1019
A-ST 68
Coonong
S-1021
A-ST 72
Corio
S-1025
A-ST 74
Cowal
S-1027
A-ST 75
A-ST 76
Cowlong
S-1029
A-ST 131
A-ST 145
A-ST 179
A-ST 233 / In convoy GI.18B from Hollandia to Leyte Mary 1945
A-ST 309
A-ST 357
ST-381
S-577 / US Import WARBOAT: Assigned to 2nd Engineer Special . The first crew: S/Sgt. (now 2d Lt) Benjamin H. Sooy, Jr. of Atlantic City, New Jersey in command with the following men comprising the crew: T/4 M. C. Papenfuss, TS/5 FrankLin K. Flower, Thomas Woienski, Privates W. C. Driscoll, Henry Keeney, G. H. Hultburg, W. S. Weisner, H. W. Clark, and Verner Smith.
ST 381 AWARDED BATTLE STAR for actions at Mindoro – Shooting down 2, possibly 3, Japanese planes
ST 381 APO 7221 December 1944.
General William F. Heavey
Headquarters, 2nd ESB
APO 72
Using Cancabato Bay, 500 feet off the Tacloban Air Strip as our permanent mooring, we have found it to be a rather hot corner at times. You know of the numerous attempts to knock that strip out since our arrival here. With all fairness to the other men who are in the same game and trying their best to bringthem down, I can say honestly that we gave one "Bogie" all that a single fifty could pump into him for a half a minute. On November 17, approximately 17:00 hrs, as the day coverage was making their landings with running lights on, one of the Honorable Nips was making a sneak on it, to strafe the field, lights on, as though he was one of our planes. The searchlight on the point spotted him being so close and low that A-A. had little opportunity. Only a few shots were fired. This was our tip off and we gave it to him for at least 3/4 of the strip when he burst into flames and crashed on the west beach opposite the southern end of the strip. We were thankful when we found out later that we had not made a case of mistaken identity. This was our first plane. Hunting being good and being informed we had a mission coming up, we applied strongly to the Brigade Ordnance Maintenance to give us more guns, and they complied. Before leaving on our mission we had five single fifties, two forward, two aft and one midship. Our ESB gunners were fit and ready for any Jap planes. December 11, Monday, orders were to proceed to Dulag and rendezvous for the night. Tuesday, the 12th, 05:30 hrs. found us proceeding on orders from the Escort Commander to sea, destination unknown, towing a 2 ESB fuel barge full of distillate. There was no activity the first day out. We were swung into Cabalian Bay, in the lower Surigao Straits on account of some trouble which was not revealed to the ships of the convoy.At 21:00 hrs, we made the Narrows entering Mindanao Sea. There was light A.A. from the tip of Mindanao, but we were under strict orders not to fire at night unless directly attacked. December 13th, at 15:00 hrs while in Lat. 9 degrees 19’ N, Long. 124 degrees 18' E. one long "Bogie" at high level, coming from the southeast, dove and missed the LCT in stern position of our column by 500 feet with two anti-personnel bombs. We all cut loose but he proved too elusive and flew off to Northward. We were sorry we didn't get him. On Thursday the 14th, while in Lat. 9' 04' N, Long. 122' 28' E, at 08:00 hrs, two Japs were coming into the convoy's stern from a Northeasterly direction, and another was meeting us dead on. We were grateful as we spotted them to see a Navy Corsair on the tail of the lower one astern. He had winged him but the Nip tried to keep himself up after his dive to reach and crash one of our escort destroyers. He failed to reach his mark by 200 yards. Still having his bomb load with him, be caused a large explosion when he struck the water. His partner above him, at high level, did not want any part of the Corsair or us. This was also the case of the one ahead of us who turned and fled, dropping his load of four bombs one mile ahead of the convoy. Friday morning the 15th at 06:00 hrs. heavy A.A. was going up astern of us from a large convoy on the horizon. At 11:00 hrs: in Lat. 10' 38' N, Long, 121' 22' E, a twin engine Jap bomber dove at the convoy from the Northeast, leveled off and picked on the second column, the next to our right, just the way we wanted him, For we had three fifties to greet him and they emptied what they had into him. The after gun hit him for 15 seconds, knocking one of his bombs off. The bomb missed the after barge in column 2. This was our second kill. One of the escort destroyers was making the rear swing of his patrol and was very glad the Nip was not under control and crashed 300 feet off his starboard bow. The Commanding Officer and the crew of the DE acknowledged this by saying 'We were doing a splendid job', also by gesturing as grasping their hands in a warm hand shake. Later in the afternoon out towing cable parted which was probably an act or an event in our favor, relative to events to follow on the next day. The cable was repaired and we were underway in 30 minutes but the Commander's orders changed us to the rear of column I, the tanker Y-14 taking up our old position. Saturday, the 16th, started as a. quite and peaceful day. The sea had gone down and the southern end of Mindoro was in sight. Mindoro was our destination. At 09:20 hrs. a bomber came in from the Northwest on our side of the convoy and leveled off low, leaving the destroyers in a hard position for their heavy guns to be effective. After he crossed the bow of the outside destroyer our two forward and midship guns kept pumping him. He attempted a left bank, but was out of control, trying to crash the Y-14 tanker, who was now in our former position of the convoy. He could only give her a glancing blow off the port quarter while in a vertical bank and dive. He crashed immediately after, rounding the tanker's stern. At least 5 or 6 of the tanker's crew jumped overboard and were picked up by the two LCTs of our convoy. I believe some of her crew were lost, as the Escort Commander asked all ships if they had picked up any men. The tanker proceeded under her own power.We arrived and anchored our barge at 22:00 hrs., 400 yards off the beach of designated anchorage. Sunday, the 17th, 02:00 hrs., Captain Harris, of the 532d Engr Boat & Shore Regt., contacted us with his Picket Boat. We moved the barge two miles North for him to have the barge under A.A. coverage. The Escort Commander sent a destroyer in for us, at 04:00 hrs. for he had the convoy underway on it's return trip. By now the Navy was catering to its little "Mascot" and was seeing that we didn't get lost. That's the impression they gave us. The convoy departed at 05:00 hrs. Sunday, the 17th. The return trip was uneventful, that is, nothing came close to us. The Navy opened up on two occasions but they were 3 to 5 miles away. We encountered two days of rough weather having to ride in the trough of the sea. It seems as though little "Betsy" was trying to make her two "Victory Rolls" on both those days. Sunday, December 17th at 18:00 hrs. the flags were half masted in the convoy for a burial at sea from the LST 605. We moored in Cancabato Bay, 15:30 hrs., Tuesday the 19th.Quite a long story for a 72 foot Tug of 4 Civilians and 6 GIs, of old 2 ESB. Respectfully yours, R. E. CARPENTER, Master, ST 381, 2 ESB.James Mahone-Chief Engineer Grant Shanahan-1st Asst. Engr, Pvt. H. Keeney-2nd Asst. Engr.
Alpha Moore-1st Mate T/4 M.C. Papenfuss-2nd Mate Pvt. G. H. Hultburg-A.B. T/5 N. L. Dewar-A.B.
Pvt. H. N. Clarke-A.B.Pvt. N. H. Weisner-Cook
ST 383 / US import
ST 384 / US import
ST 385 / US import
ST 386 / US import
ST 403 / US import
ST 404 / US import
ST 405
S-648 / US import
ST 406 / US Import
In convoy GI.16A from Hollandia to Hollandia Mar 1945
ST407 / US import
ST 408 / US Import
In convoy GI.3 from Hollandia to Leyte
Jan 1945
ST 409 / US import
ST 457 / US import
ST 458 / US import
ST 459 / US import
ST 460 / US import
ST 468
S-583 / US import
ST 469 / US import
In convoy GI.11A from Hollandia to Leyte
Feb 1945
ST 470 / US import
In convoy GI.16A from Hollandia to Hollandia Mar 1945
ST 472
S-641 / US import
In Convoy GI.11A from Hollandia to Leyte
Feb 1945
ST 507 / Type 327E / US import
A-ST 514 / In Convoy GI.18B from Hollandia to Leyte Mar 1945
ST 557 / US import
ST 558 / US import
ST 559 / US import
ST 561 / US import
ST 566 / US import
ST 568 / US import
ST 569 / US import
ST 570 / US import
ST 571 / US import
ST 574 / US import
ST 575 / US import
ST 576 / US import
ST 588 / US import
ST 590 / US import
ST 591 / US import
ST 593 / US import
ST 594 / US import
ST 595 / US import
ST 596 / US import
ST 597 / US import
ST 598 / US import
ST 599 / US import
ST 600 / US import
ST 607 / US import
ST 608 / US import
ST 609 / US import
ST 610 / US import
ST 611 / US import
ST 612 / US import
ST 613 / US import
ST 614 / US import
ST 615 / US import
ST 618 / US import
ST 619 / US import
ST 620 / US import
ST 621 / US import
ST 622 / US import
ST 623 / US import
ST 624 / US import
ST 625 / US import
ST 626 / US import
ST 627 / US import
ST 628 / US import
ST 629 / US import
A-ST 648
S-583
ST 694 / Type 327 / US import
A-ST 729
ST 733 / Type 327 / US import
ST 839 / Type 327 / US import
Several articles will at some point be added to the website on the Australian tugs.